As the presidential primary season rolls on, it’s easy to wonder whether there could be a better class of candidates than those we’ve seen already. Local photographer Penny Gentieu and husband Tom Friemoth offer a humorous alternative in their new book Baby For President (Pierrepenny Books, $14.95). Gentieu’s famous baby photography is accompanied by Friemoth’s humorous captions, explaining what the adorable would-be “candidates” would say if they could. Some of them make a convincing case — “Are you better off now, or before you were born?” one shining-eyed moppet asks. They’ve got our vote. Order it from a local bookstore or Amazon! Available in paperback or Kindle edition.
Kids’ Concoctions Are Kid-Approved
Big Buddha’s
Cast Iron Grill
6725 W. Central Ave. (at McCord Rd.)
419-725-9048
Sun. – Thur. 11am-10pm
Fri. – Sat. 11am-11pm
We’ve all been there. Polite children who gladly ate everything put in front of them become picky eaters who no longer like “mamma’s cookin.’” When venturing out to eat, at times my children refuse to step out of their “chicken nugget comfort zone.” But during a recent dinner out with my family, I became a true believer of the claim that children are more likely to eat food they helped prepare.
Keeping it simple
Before opening Big Buddha’s Cast Iron Grill in January, Toledoan Anthony Varwig and his business partners knew they wanted to keep things simple. Though the menu is simple, the possibilities are endless. “The beauty of this concept is that it can be as healthy as you want it to be,” said Mr. Varwig. You purchase a lunch bowl and unlimited salad bar for $7.99, or a dinner bowl and unlimited salad bar for $12.99 ($5.99 for kids). What goes in that bowl is solely up to you.
If you are unfamiliar with Mongolian barbeque, it is basically stir-fried food, with the ingredients selected by the diner. The array of fresh ingredients at Big Buddha is almost overwhelming at first. A staff member is nearby to answer any questions and to offer ideas or suggestions if you just can’t decide for yourself. They are adamant at Big Buddha’s that you start at the vegetables, work your way through the various meats, and end with the shellfish to avoid any cross contamination. Varwig said he regularly gets comments on the cleanliness and full food offerings at Big Buddha’s. “You have to be consistent, consistent, consistent with the food and the service,” said Varwig.
When you have filled your bowl with all your favorites, hand it over to a sword-wielding cook to finish the process. You can choose to have your stir-fry served over pasta, white rice, brown rice, or in a tortilla. The food is placed on top of a giant, round, metal flat-top grill, and it’s quickly done cooking. They have a process in place for grilling for those with food allergies, and you may also choose to forgo making your own selections, choosing a predetermined combination of ingredients prepared for you. “We adapt every day to what customers want and need,” said Varwig, pointing out that flexibility and adaptability is an advantage of being locally owned.
Endless possibilities
The open design of the restaurant made it easy to keep an eye on my youngest as he happily colored at the table while we prepared our bowls. The waitress even stopped by to give him Goldfish crackers while he waited.
Rarely getting hot dogs at home, my youngest was ecstatic to have the mini hot dogs from the kids’ menu. My older two were excited to try their culinary skills in making up their very own bowls. They enjoyed watching their bowls transform into masterpieces of their own design atop the 600 degree iron grill. When I initially glanced at my son’s bowl of red skin potatoes, shredded carrots, and pepperoni served without sauce over white rice, I was sure he would never eat it, let alone finish it. And that was when I had my “ah-ha moment.” As I watched in disbelief, my son who designed his own dinner bowl ate every morsel. Children will indeed clean their plate when they had a hand in preparing the food served on it!
If you like to experiment, the options are endless. My husband and I can’t wait to return and try something completely different. I’m pondering a seafood stir-fry for next time.
Kids eat free on Monday
Kids’ meals for those 10 and under include applesauce and a drink for $5.99. If your young one isn’t a fan of stir fry, they also offer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken nuggets, mac-n-cheese, and mini hot dogs.
Big Buddha’s offers a variety of specials and entertainment during the week as well. My family stopped by on a Monday evening when one kid eats free off the children’s menu with each adult dinner bowl purchase. Our favorite magician, Andrew Martin, was also there from 6 to 8 pm, performing intriguing tableside magic and making delightful balloon creations. He left us shaking our heads and wondering “How’d he do that?” Monday night hasn’t been this fun in a long time.
Bottom Line: Big Buddha’s offers stir-fry like you’ve never had it before. Your kids will enjoy concocting their very own meal and so will you! Standard kid faves are still available for the less adventurous among us. Stop by on Mondays when kids eat free and Andrew Martin the magician is on hand to entertain.
Karen Zickes is a mom of three active children and freelance writer who resides in Holland, OH. She can be reached in c/o [email protected].
The greatest of ease
Showbiz is a full-time job. The acrobats in Cirque du Soleil, the legendary Montreal-based "contemporary circus" troupe, are fantastically well-trained and professional — they've been wowing audiences worldwide since the 1980's with their high-flying artistry rooted in street theater. And sometimes that street-level experience comes in handy, as Natalia Pestova can attest.
The Russian-born acrobat, who will appear with Cirque's Quidam show at Huntington Center, June 6th through 10th, has found herself showing her skills at unlikely times during her travels. "Sometimes when we cross a border," she remembers, "they [customs officials] want us to do some tricks." Laughing, she admits that her husband, Alexander Pestov, is more likely to oblige these requests than she is.
The circus is a family affair for Pestov and Pestova. Alexander came to the business first, in 1995, but Natalia, who was trained as a gymnast, traveled with him. "I was just a 'housewife,'" she says. But her strength and physical skill couldn't be kept secret from the Cirque coaches and directors. By 1999, she'd been invited to join the troupe, and now alongside Alexander in Quidam, the couple performs a piece called "Hand to Hand." Pestova can't quite put the essence of the act into English — "it's better to see it," she says — but like all Cirque productions, it's an impressive mix of spectacle and narrative.
A whole world
Family got Pestova into the circus, and became a big part of the experience, as she and Pestov have raised two children during their time with the group. The elder, Vladimir, spent a big part of his childhood as a member of Cirque's extended family. "It's like a world inside the world," Pestova says. "You have kitchens, schools, everything." It's a cosmopolitan world — Vladimir learned Russian, French and English as a child — and he got a taste of the circus life that's stuck with him to this day. Now 18, Vladimir is back in Russia attending college, but he still harbors some show business dreams. "He's still juggling," Pestova says, with a mix of amusement and pride. "He wants to continue with the circus. Maybe before long, he will."
Not every family could handle such a vivid, literally high-flying existence. For most of us, the day-to-day grind of work, laundry and school is circus enough. But for Pestov and Pestova, it's a world they've loved together and thrived in. When trying to describe the "Hand to Hand" act in the simplest terms, Pestova maybe inadvertently stumbled across a fine description of family — "I lift my husband," she says, haltingly. "And he lifts me."
Cirque Du Soleil's Quidam is at the
Huntington Center from June 6-10. For
tickets, call 1-800-745-3000, or visit
www.huntingtoncentertoledo.com. $37-97.
Man up
In a new Disney movie, a young chimp is orphaned and faces certain peril if not adopted by one of the females of the clan. Unfortunately, the other chimp moms have their hands — not to mention feet — full dealing with youngsters of their own preventing them from mothering little Oscar. Scientists filming the chimps are totally taken aback when they witness something absolutely astonishing. The alpha male, and grand patriarch of the group, Freddy, steps up to the plate and cares for the little guy in his time of need.
I have witnessed the “stepping up to the plate” part as well as the reactions of those who see a dad doing something out of the stereotypical gender role. I feel as if I have lived the real life version of Dr. Seuss’s “on a train, in a plane, in a boat, with a goat” as I have single-handedly taken my three little monkeys across the U.S., Canada and overseas. Don’t get me wrong, I was offered kindness as I juggled strollers, diaper bags, the coveted “busy bag” of activities, and enough snacks to feed a small village through the jungle known as Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Yet I could see a veneer of empathy, the look that said, “Well toots, welcome to motherhood.” In comparison, when baby Helena flew home with her father, he was assisted with his carry-on, and provided with a pillow, a blanket and a beverage while the flight attendants took turns holding our
little miss.
I have witnessed numerous responses from those in our jungles who are surprised when the alpha “Freddies” of the world “man up”. I come from a long line of alpha males. My former football, cross-country, military, Big Ten FREAK of a dad’s first response to a young man coming into our house was to slap him on the back with a resounding “Do you play ball?” My grandpa was a surgeon, a Marine medic in the jungles of Okinawa, who raised beef cattle as a hobby. My mom’s dad, who we called “Pops,” was an avid fisherman who loved the outdoors. I guess you could stereotypically call them “real men” but just like Oscar, I was scooped up by their love and experienced moments of tenderness that would baffle anyone peering into our pack.
Real men watch sing-alongs
Just like Freddy’s meticulous grooming of Oscar, I can envision Pop’s painstaking attempts at trying to put a bow in my daughter’s hair, buckle her “shiny shoes” before a big outing and dropping everything to watch the “Sharon, Lois and Bram Sing-Along Show." I can recall my Dad donning a native headdress for our YMCA “Indian Princess” meeting. It would seem logical that, as the older alpha progressed in years, he would get to sit back and chomp on some nuts and berries. No, he once again rose to the occasion and faced a whole new generation of princesses, bead-stringing and feathers with his granddaughters.
There is a special place in my heart reserved for my Uncle Tom. He has loved me when I was the least lovable. Even through my cancer journey he somehow managed to make a plump (thanks to steroids) bald woman with drainage tubes feel beautiful. He took me out for our annual birthday outing during my beauty-challenged time, where we traditionally gab, grub and where the “manly man” helps me forage through boutiques, looking for the perfect outfit. Not accustomed to the additional apparatuses and my new size, I found myself stuck in a frock. He swung into action and untangled me from my medically-necessitated constraints, and got me out of the wilderness of embarrassment and despair and back to the safety of his love and respect.
Papa Nick was an alpha in our jungle that many approached with apprehension, but I knew that even though he liked to “thump his chest” and protect his territory, there was a heart of a “Freddy” under that tough exterior. I was alone dealing with a frightened, sick child in the ER when, to my surprise, I looked over to see him standing next to me. Papa Nick was battling the invisible foe of Alzheimer’s and he made his presence known much to the chagrin of the healthcare workers. Tucked under his arm was a little fuzzy bear for his girl. Papa has left us but that little bear still sits at the foot of Maria’s bed.
Maybe we have all been conditioned to thinking that being a real man requires superhuman strength and brute force. I don’t believe so. I constantly see dads “man up.” Their little ones who cling to them for guidance are blessed because it truly is a jungle out there.
Mindless Eating vs.Mindful Eating
“If it’s there you will eat it!” This statement is true for many of us and its not improving the obesity epidemic we are facing today. Here are a few tips to help when it comes to the tempting food commercials and delicious cues that bombard us everyday.
Stress. When you are stressed, you are more likely to overeat and reach for unhealthy junk foods. Self control is difficult and seconds are automatic. Beware of stress and plan to combat it with extra exercise and healthy snacks
Food pushers. These individuals don’t help you with healthy eating or healthy habits. They will tempt you, tease you and break you! Be confident in your plan and keep in mind your long term goals.
Food Cues. When it comes to your five senses, high fat food can hijack them all with virtually no effort. Cues to eat are everywhere and avoiding them is nearly impossible.
Make a list before you go shopping. Don’t go shopping hungry, and review the menu for a restaurant choice online before you decide to go out to eat.
Distraction. Hunger sometimes has little to do with why we eat. Social events, celebrations and boredom can encourage eating in many cases. Try taking a walk, doing a crossword puzzle, reading or chewing a stick of sugar free gum instead of digging into the bowl of peanuts in front of you!
Skill power. In today’s challenging food environment will power is over-rated. You must choose the skills that help you make healthy choices. Start by never skipping breakfast, stock your pantry with healthy food choices and utilize a food journal or fitness app.
Understanding the foods and circumstances that trigger mindless eating, planning ahead when shopping and cooking healthy meals for your family will support a healthy and happy family. A more mindful approach to eating will instill good habits and a healthy future for everyone in your brood.
Building compassion
Summer vacation often commences with a binge on all the time-killers that were forbidden during the school year — Facebook, texting, and TV. It can be a self-centered time, and parents may be at a loss as to how to direct their child’s attention outwardly. Volunteering is one way parents can instill a giving attitude and provide education about community needs.
“The number one reason I believe young adults should get involved by volunteering is to better understand the community,” said Bryan Wynn, volunteer coordinator at United Way of Greater Toledo. “Another thing about volunteering at a young age is that it’s a very humbling experience. A lot of kids are kind of wrapped up in themselves, so to regroup and help those who are less fortunate is a very humbling experience.”
Wynn says even though some volunteering tasks may feel mundane to tweens, their impact on the community at large is still significant. “They’re not just throwing some bags here and sorting some clothes there,” he says, “What they’re doing is really helping and providing benefit to other individuals who are less fortunate.” Parents and tweens can talk to volunteer coordinators at organizations like United Way to help find opportunities that best fit their interests. Some volunteering your child may be able to do on his or her own, while other placements require parents to participate alongside. Here’s a list of opportunities to get families started on their search for a good cause.
United Way Ambassador Project
Volunteers can read to pre-school children at the Catholic Club, 1601 Jefferson Ave., on some Tuesdays in June and July, or pack senior food boxes at Toledo Seagate Food Bank, 526 High St. on Sat., July 7 or Sat., Aug. 4. from 9 am to noon. Visit www.unitedwaytoledo.org for details or call Holly Ball, volunteer coordinator, at 419-254-4708.
Toledo Area Humane Society
Animal-lovers may find their passion helping four-legged friends in need. The Toledo Area Humane Society relies heavily on volunteers, and welcomes junior volunteers between the ages of 10 and 16. Volunteers are asked to sign up for at least 10 hours per month for six months, and need to complete an online application with an adult who plans to volunteer with them. There is a three-hour orientation for those who are accepted. Contact Mary Moser, director of volunteers, at 419-891-1561 or visit www.toledoareahumanesociety.org.
The Toledo Library
The library’s Volunteen program offers training for tweens as young as 12 who want to offer their help. Mandatory training sessions give young adults confidence before they begin their duties, and are available until June 13. Potential volunteens can select the branch where they’d like to help out. Visit www.toledolibrary.org to complete a registration form and gather more information.
The Toledo Zoo
For future zoologists and kids passionate about conservation the ZOOTeen program is a chance to give back in an educational environment. They can gain public-speaking skills and leadership qualities by serving as guides for zoo visitors. The program is offered year-round to kids ages 13 to 17. There is a one-time fee of $40 upon acceptance (scholarships are available to help with the cost). While they’re no longer accepting applications for the summer 2012 program, young adults can apply to qualify for programs during other seasons. E-mail [email protected] for more information.
Hospitals
Hospitals often run special programs catering to younger volunteers.Visit the Mercy Health Partners’ website at www.mercyweb.org or Promedica at www.promedica.org to match your family with the right opportunity at one of the network hospitals.
Create your own cause
Another option is to go out into your neighborhood and find ways to help. Assisting elderly neighbors in cutting their lawns or washing their cars or organizing a group of friends to do a playground cleanup are just some of many available ways to pitch in.